Ahead of this year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics, former African 100 meters champion Deji Aliu said there is need for Nigerian athletes preparing for the global sporting event to attend more meets to keep them in top shape ahead of the Games.
In an interview with The Nigerian Xpress Sports, the member of the Nigeria relay team that won bronze at the 2004 Olympics explained that the Olympics is not a tea party and only the best athletes stand a chance of mounting the podium and as such, quality preparation is always key to achieving success at the Games..
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“I’m happy that most of our foreign based athletes are presently participating in one meet or the other and doing well in those competitions. These meets are important especially in an Olympic year because apart from keeping the athletes in top shape, it gives them adequate exposure and confidence bearing in mind that most of the athletes they meet are still the same persons they will compete against at the Games,” the 2003 All Africa Games 100 meters winner stressed.
Aliu explained that what’s important going into any international competition is adequate preparation noting that the relevant authorities must ensure that athletes are adequately motivated to enable them do the country proud in Japan.
“There’s no denying the fact that adequate preparation is key to a successful outing at any major competition, be it All Africa Games, Commonwealth or Olympic Games. All I want the Sports Ministry to do, is to avoid the usual fire brigade approach of doing things and ensure the athletes are adequately taken care of so as to make the country proud not only in this year’s Olympics but subsequent championships.”
